Jiao Ting

Jiao Ting
Water Margin character
a Qing dynasty illustration of Jiao Ting
First appearanceChapter 67
In-universe information
Nicknames"Faceless"
沒面目
Originwrestler
DesignationInfantry Commander of Liangshan
Rank98th, Evil Star (地惡星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Ancestral home / Place of originZhongshan Prefecture (around present-day Dingzhou, Hebei)
Chinese names
Simplified Chinese焦挺
Traditional Chinese焦挺
PinyinJiāo Tǐng
Wade–GilesChiao T'ing

Jiao Ting is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Classic Chinese Novels. Nicknamed "Faceless", he ranks 98th among the 108 Heroes and 62nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Originally from Zhongshan Prefecture (中山府; around present-day Dingzhou, Hebei), Jiao Ting is a highly-skilled fighter who specialises in wrestling, having mastered a set of wrestling techniques which cannot be taught to anyone outside his family. He roams from place to place and is nicknamed "Faceless" as he prefers to remain anonymous in the jianghu despite his skill.

Encounter with Li Kui

Jiao Ting intends to join the outlaws led by Bao Xu at Deadwood Hill (枯樹山) in Kouzhou (寇州; present-day Guan County, Shandong). On the way there, he encounters Li Kui, an outlaw from Liangshan Marsh, and keeps staring at him, completely unfazed by Li's bravado and beastly appearance. Annoyed, Li Kui fights with Jiao Ting, but ends up losing.

Impressed with Jiao Ting's skill, Li Kui introduces himself and invites Jiao to join the outlaw band at Liangshan. Jiao Ting eagerly accepts and travels with Li Kui to Deadwood Hill to find Bao Xu. It turns out that Li Kui has left Liangshan without authorisation to join his fellow outlaws in attacking the government forces sent to destroy Liangshan.

Becoming an outlaw

Upon reaching Deadwood Hill, Li Kui and Jiao Ting introduce themselves to Bao Xu, who accepts Li's invitation to join Liangshan as well. Just then, the trio learn that Liangshan's Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen have been captured by government forces, and that the convoy escorting the two captives is passing by Deadwood Hill. Together, they attack the convoy and save Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen.

Afterwards, Jiao Ting joins Li Kui, Bao Xu and the Deadwood Hill outlaws in launching a surprise attack on the government forces' base at Lingzhou (凌州; in present-day Dezhou, Shandong). Following the outlaws' victory, Jiao Ting follows Li Kui and the others back to Liangshan, and becomes a member of the Liangshan outlaw band.

Campaigns and death

Jiao Ting is appointed as a commander of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Heroes are fully assembled. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory after the outlaws receive amnesty from Emperor Huizong.

During the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Jiao Ting is killed at the battle of Runzhou (潤州; present-day Runzhou District, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu).

References

  • Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
  • Miyazaki, Ichisada (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559.
  • Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  • Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 199. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
  • Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  • Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei
  • Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.